Group files IRS complaint on Focus on the Family

Tuesday, November 29th 2005, 8:42 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A Washington group wants the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether Focus on the Family or its founder James Dobson violated IRS rules by endorsing several candidates, including Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn.

The complaint by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington also asks whether the tax-exempt status of Focus on the Family should be revoked. Tax-exempt organizations are prohibited from taking part in campaigns for or against candidates for public office.

Focus on the Family attorney James Bopp says the group has fully complied with IRS code.

Dobson came to Oklahoma during the 2004 Senate race and endorsed Coburn while appearing at several political events.

Bopp says anything Dobson did to endorse candidates, he did as an individual.